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At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured after a powerful explosion struck an imambargah during Friday prayers in Pakistan’s federal capital.

The blast occurred at Imambargah Khadijah al-Kubra in the Tarlai area of Islamabad. Police and Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and began rescue and evacuation efforts.

The attack took place during the official two-day visit of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Islamabad Capital Territory Police spokesperson Taqi Jawad said it was too early to determine the exact nature of the explosion, but initial indications suggested a suicide attack. Security forces sealed off...

Winter Olympic anti-doping officials say they will be alert to any evidence that male ski jumpers are artificially enlarging their private parts in an attempt to exploit competition rules and gain an aerodynamic advantage.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General Olivier Niggli said the issue would be reviewed if it fell within the agency’s definition of doping. Speaking at a press conference in Milan ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Niggli said WADA currently has no indication the practice is taking place.

«I am not aware of the details of ski jumping and how this...

Toyota has appointed finance chief Kenta Kon as its next chief executive, replacing Koji Sato from April 1. Kon, a close ally of Chairman Akio Toyoda, will take over as the world’s largest automaker faces intensifying competition from Chinese rivals.

Sato, who has led Toyota for three years, will become vice chairman and take on a new role as chief industry officer, focusing on broader industry matters while Kon concentrates on internal management and finances.

Known for strict cost control, Kon also spearheaded the planned buyout of forklift subsidiary Toyota Industries, a deal opposed by minority shareholders for being...

Russian authorities have banned stand-up comedian Nurlan Saburov from entering the country for 50 years. He was detained at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport after arriving on a Fly Dubai flight from the United Arab Emirates, where he had been filming a commercial project, according to Telegram channel SHOT.

During passport control, Saburov was taken to a separate room and served with the entry ban. He previously faced cancellations of concerts in several Russian cities including Yekaterinburg, Omsk, Nizhny Tagil, Kurgan, Ryazan and Obninsk. Organisers cited «unforeseen circumstances» and pledged to refund tickets within 180 days.

In May 2025, Saburov was...

Arrow McLaren has officially opened its new North American headquarters and unveiled the three Chevrolet-powered cars set for the 2026 NTT IndyCar Series.

The McLaren Racing Center on Zionsville Road, formerly home to Andretti Global, has undergone six months of renovation, expanding from 30,000 to 86,000 square feet. The upgraded facility includes a new gym, an extended mezzanine and an immersive lobby showcasing the team’s history.

Team Principal Tony Kanaan presented the 2026 driver lineup, continuing the team’s strong momentum from 2025. Pato O’Ward returns in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, Nolan Siegel drives the No. 6, and...

China’s TBEA Co., Ltd. has signed an agreement with Uzbek state company Uzgidroenergo to upgrade three hydroelectric stations in the Lower Bozsu cascade in Tashkent region.

Following the modernisation, the combined capacity of the plants will rise from 27.4 MW to 32.4 MW. An additional 5 MW of power will be installed, and annual electricity generation is expected to increase by 52.8 mln kWh.

The project is expected to supply electricity to more than 21,000 households, reduce natural gas consumption by 17 mln cubic metres and save over 40,000 tonnes of coal each year.

Kursiv also reports that...

Inflation in Uzbekistan rose by 0.7% in January 2026, bringing the annual increase to 7.2%, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Regionally, the highest annual inflation was recorded in Fergana at 7.7%, followed by Bukhara and Khorezm regions at 7.5%. The lowest price growth occurred in Jizzakh at 6.7% and the capital region at 6.8%. In Tashkent, inflation reached 7.2% over the year.

Food prices increased by 5.4% and healthcare costs rose by 5.2% year-on-year. Education services saw a moderate increase of 1.6%, while transport costs surged by 12.1%. Utilities became 17% more expensive and insurance services jumped 40%.

Mercedes’ new F1 engine design has been approved by the FIA, but it has stirred concern among rival teams over a potential competitive advantage.

According to reports, the Brixworth six-cylinder engine features a second micro combustion chamber that remains inactive when cold to comply with the 16:1 compression limit, but activates when hot, effectively reaching 18:1 compression during racing. The FIA confirmed the design is legal, while Mercedes insists the power unit is fully compliant.

Theoretically, the innovation could give Mercedes a measurable gain of around 10 horsepower, with additional advantage from optimised sustainable fuel chemistry. Rival teams...

BTS has unveiled the Official Light Stick Ver.4, an upgraded version of its fan light stick with new features and an enhanced wireless control system. The Ver.4 release comes nearly six years after the previous Map of The Soul Special Edition.

The new Light Stick offers a refreshed design and comes with compatible accessories, including a cradle and replaceable parts in BTS and ARMY versions. A new app and improved wireless system enhance usability and allow more sophisticated stage effects during concerts.

Key upgrades include:

Two Democratic U.S. senators have urged the Pentagon to launch an immediate review of SpaceX. This follows allegations that investors linked to China secretly acquired stakes in the company, potential posing risks to national security.

In a letter seen by Reuters, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Andy Kim asked Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to examine the matter, warning that undisclosed Chinese investment could threaten sensitive military, intelligence and civilian infrastructure.

The lawmakers pointed to media reports and court testimony suggesting that funds tied to China were channelled through entities in the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands to conceal purchases...

Uzbekistan and Pakistan have prepared a joint portfolio of projects worth $3.5 bn following high-level talks in Tashkent.

On February 5, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held negotiations and chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation.

The agreed projects span agriculture, electrical engineering, geology, pharmaceuticals, and the light and food industries. The two sides also agreed to establish a Business Council, launch a Uzbekistan–Pakistan Regional Forum, and organise a Week of Uzbek Culture and Days of Uzbek Cinema in Pakistan.

Mirziyoyev proposed opening a joint cultural centre in Lahore dedicated...

Boris Golender, a historian, local studies expert, journalist and writer who devoted his career to exploring the history and culture of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, died on February 5 after a long illness. He was 77.

Golender was born in Tashkent on September 12, 1947. He graduated from the chemistry faculty of Tashkent State University and later defended a PhD in chemistry.

Alongside his scientific background, Golender dedicated decades to researching the history of his native city and country. He authored more than 100 works, including books and articles, focusing on Tashkent’s past, architecture and cultural heritage.

He worked at...

Uzbekistan and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the supply, extraction and processing of critical minerals and rare earth materials.

The agreement was signed on February 5 during the Ministerial Meeting on Critical Minerals in Washington by Uzbekistan’s foreign minister Bakhtiyor Saidov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

“We view critical minerals not only as an economic opportunity but also as a field for responsible partnership and long-term sustainable development,” Saidov said.

Uzbekistan holds significant reserves of gold, copper, tungsten, silver and uranium. In...

Magnus Carlsen remains the undisputed star of chess, topping Forbes’ ranking of the 10 players with the highest annual prize earnings. Even without competing for the formal world championship title, the Norwegian dominated tournaments across multiple continents.

Fabiano Caruana and Levon Aronian also claimed top spots, while veterans like Hikaru Nakamura made a major comeback after a quieter previous year.

Two young Uzbek grandmasters broke into the top 10 as well. Nodirbek Abdusattorov had a breakthrough season with wins at major events including the London Chess Classic, and Javokhir Sindarov captured attention with a historic FIDE World...

Sony Group has outlined plans to expand the Peanuts franchise across music, film and global distribution following its acquisition of an 80% stake in Peanuts Worldwide.

Speaking on the company’s fiscal third-quarter earnings call, chief financial officer Lin Tao said the deal brings together Sony’s music and film divisions to grow what he described as one of the world’s most enduring intellectual properties.

Sony Music Entertainment Japan plans to integrate Peanuts characters and stories into music, video and live events, including collaborations with its artists. Sony Pictures Entertainment will use its production capabilities and international distribution network to broaden...

Uzbekistan’s Republican Commodity and Stock Exchange (UzEx) recorded a 31% increase in total trade volumes in 2025 compared with 2024.

The electronic government procurement segment grew by 46% over the year, while exchange and fair trading volumes rose by 24% and 9% respectively.

In total, 30,100 new clients joined the exchange and e-commerce systems in 2025. Of these, 4,700 registered on the trading platforms, while 25,400 joined electronic systems and government procurement platforms.

Most transactions involved agricultural products, fuel and energy goods, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and chemical and petrochemical products.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv...

Uzbekistan’s stock exchange sold 4.6 tonnes of precious metals in 2025, marking a 59% increase compared with the previous year, the press service of the Uzbekistan Republican Commodity and Stock Exchange (UzEx) told Kursiv Uzbekistan.

Gold accounted for 4.3 tonnes of the total, while silver made up 323 kilograms. The average exchange price of gold rose by 52% over the year, from 1 mln ($81.53) to 1.6 mln soums ($130.4) per gram.

Online auctions also remained popular, with more than 7,000 phone numbers sold in 2025. Of these, 96% were purchased by individuals and 4% by companies, with prices ranging...

The earnings of Formula 1 drivers always attract attention each season, with fans curious about how much stars like Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc take home.

RacingNews365 spoke to multiple sources within the F1 paddock to compile an overview of the estimated annual salaries for all drivers in 2026. The figures listed reflect base salaries only and do not include team or performance bonuses, or income from personal sponsorship deals.

Top earners in the sport
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari at the start of last year, is reported to earn $60 mln annually. Including...

A mural in a central Rome church featuring an angel restored to resemble Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been painted over after sparking political and clerical outrage. The image, in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina near government offices, drew attention when first spotted by the newspaper la Repubblica on Saturday.

One of two angels in the chapel had been altered to closely mirror the 49-year-old right-wing leader, Italy’s first female prime minister. The depiction provoked criticism from opposition figures and irritation from Cardinal Baldo Reina, Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome.

Under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, artefacts from Ancient Bactria were brought from the United Kingdom to the Center of Islamic Civilisation in Uzbekistan. The exhibition sheds light on a civilisation that flourished in Central Asia long before Islam, building cities, establishing trade routes and producing sophisticated jewellery.

Jewellery and symbols of status

The exhibition highlights the region’s pre-Islamic craftsmanship, jewellery and symbolic thinking. Gold bracelets, once key symbols of social status, were inlaid with semi-precious stones such as agate, turquoise and lapis lazuli, serving as both decorative and status symbols.

Beads and necklaces display high-level...

Chinese company Wangneng Environment plans to invest $173 mln in the construction of a waste-to-energy plant in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara region, according to Yicai Global.

The facility is expected to process up to 1,500 tonnes of waste per day, with construction scheduled for completion in 2028. Revenue is projected to come mainly from waste disposal services and the sale of electricity.

Yicai Global noted that the project will allow Wangneng Environment to expand its overseas operations amid intense competition in China’s domestic market.

Wangneng Environment specialises in waste-to-energy projects. The company designs, builds and operates waste incineration power plants as...

A 27-year-old man is accused of deliberately targeting children online. He has been charged with hundreds of child abuse related offences involving victims in Australia and at least 15 other countries, Queensland police said.

The man, who has been in custody since February last year, now faces 596 charges after investigators uncovered more than 23,000 images and videos of alleged abuse on his electronic devices.

Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark said the sheer scale of the material meant identifying victims required significant time and specialist effort. So far, 360 victims have been identified and investigations are continuing.

The number of tourists from Uzbekistan who visited Turkey in 2025 reached 268,900 people, marking a year-on-year increase of 17.4%, according to the National Statistics Committee.

Leisure travel accounted for the majority of visits, with 201,800 Uzbek citizens travelling to Turkey for tourism purposes. A further 58,900 people visited relatives living in the country.

Medical tourism also showed steady demand, with 3,700 Uzbeks travelling to Turkey for treatment. Another 2,500 people went to study, while 1,900 visited for work-related reasons.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s hotel sector does not plan to abandon the all-inclusive system in the upcoming season. A representative of...

UzOman Investment Company has acquired a 33.3% share in Hektas Asia LLC, the Uzbekistan-focused unit of OYAK’s Hektas, marking a strategic step in industrial cooperation between Central Asia, Oman and Turkey.

The stake increase — carried out through a $24.9 mln capital injection — was formalised at a signing event in Istanbul by Hektas CEO Enis Emre Terzi and UzOman Investment Director Mohammed Al Abri.

The partnership supports the construction of a high-technology agricultural chemicals facility in the Uzbek-Turkish Organised Industrial Zone near Tashkent, scheduled to begin operations in 2027. The project aims to boost local production of advanced agricultural...